Controlling phase relations



Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. P. STEINMETZ.

GONTROLLING PHASE RELATIONS.

Patented Aug.. 6, 1895..

WITNfEa v d @Mdm/v (No Model. 'y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. P. STEINMETZ. coNTRoLLING PHASE RELATIONS.

No. 543,907. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES P. STEINMETZ, OF LYNN, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTROLLING PHASE RELATIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,907, dated August6, 1895.

Application led September 9,I 1893. Serial No. 485,186. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: 4

Beit known that I, CHARLES P. STEINMETZ,

of Breslau, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, a subjectof the Emperor 5 of Germany, now residing at Lynn, county of Essex,State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Automatic Phase-Controllers for Al-ternating Currents, ofwhich the following is a specifiio cation.

The present invention relates to the control of the phase relationbetween the current and electromotive force in an alternating circuit;and it consists of certain means for effecting the desired controlautomatically, the principal features comprising an electrodynamicphase-controller and a regulating device so organized as to respond tochanges in the current strength iowing in the circuit and to zo modifycorrespondingly the action of the controller upon the phase relationbetween current and electromotive force. An automatic regulator of thischaracter may be adjusted so as to maintain a desired relation-as, for

example, one of harmony--in spite of changes in the main current, forthe lagging or displaced phase relation of the current varies With itsstrength when We disregard differences arising from changes in thenature of 3c the translating devices themselves. Hence the samevariations of current in a circuit of translating devices which tend toincrease or decrease the lag may bring into play correspondingly-varyingbalancing influences; or,

as it may be regarded from another point of View, the amount of thelagging or retarded current (if the current is behindthe electromotiveforce) or of the leading or accelerated current (if the current is inadvance of the electromotive force) will, if the nature of thetranslating device is not changed,vary in proportion to the main currentstrength. Hence, in order to compensate for the displaced current, thecorrective current flowing in the phase-con- .4 5 troller should vary asthe main current varies.

In other applications recently filed by me it is set forth that asynchronous machine, serving either as a motor, generator, or rotarytransformer, will act to accelerate or retard A 5o the currentrelatively to the electromotive force if the strength of its field is,in the one case, raised above the amount necessary to maintain anequality between the impressed and counter electromotive forces whenloss in the machine itself is disregarded, or, in the other case, if thefield strength is reduced beloW this normal standard. Itis also shown insaid applications that induction-controllers, generally similar toinduction-motors, have a like effect of changing the phase relation be-6o tween current and electromotive force when the running speed isgreater or less than that of synchronism.

The immediate aim of the present invention is to make the action of suchphase-control- 1ers automatic. In fact, in its broadest terms theinvention includes the automatic regulation of a phase-controller, evenalthough the controller be not of the electrodynamic type suggestedabove. 7o

In the accompanying drawing there are shown diagrammatically analternating current series and parallel distribution systems with thepresent invention made a part thereof.

In the figure of the drawing there is shown a generator Gr ofalternating currents which feeds a main circuit L.

Transformers T T2 havegtheir primaries v connected in parallel with theline L, and So their secondaries lead to the translating de. vices,which in one case are represented as lamps R and in another case asmotors M. The distribution system so shown, however, is intended to beillustrative only, for it may be of any desired character and extent,and the alternating current may have a single phase or plural phases.

The phase-controller is coupled in circuit between the transformer T andthe lamps R, 9o and, as shown, it consists of a synchronous' rotarytransformer rectifying the current fed to the lamps, though it Will beunderstood that other phase-controllers may be regulated automaticallyin a similar manner, so that the invention while shown applied to thisspecial type of machine is not necessarily limited thereto.

The armature A of the phase-controller has its terminals coupled withthe mains C,4so ico that it is traversed by the current passing to thelights. After passing through the armature the current is rectified, anda portion of it which is shunted around the lamps passes through thetieldcoils F of the controller and a resistance C coupled in series withthe fieldcoils. This resistance, and consequently the strength of the magnetie field ofthe controller, is regulated automatically by the actionof a solenoid S in circuit with the lamps, which attracts a core Rconnected to a contact-lever D in such manner as to cutout resistancefrom the field-circuit. rlhe lever is moved in the opposite direction byan adjustable spring B whenever' the attractive force of the solenoid Sfalls below the retractile power of the sprino.

The circuit connections may be traced as follows: The current enteringthe controller from one side of the circuit C by brush ce passes to thearmature by the connection b, whence it goes by connection c to asegment 7c of a recti'fyingcommutator, on which rests a brush c,connected to one of the lighting mains B. From the other of said mainsB2 the current passes through the solenoid S, and thence to a brush eresting on a segment 7s of the commutator. lhis last segment isconnected to the inner terminal ring ofthe armature, on which rests abrush a joined to the other side of the circuit C. rlhe field-coils arein a shunt to the lamps, which, starting from the point j, leads to theresistance C, and thence from the lever D through the differentfield-eoils in series, joining the mainr circuit at j. lt will now beunderstood that as the current passing to the lamp increases whenadditional lamps are put in circuit an increased attraction will beexerted by the solenoid S, which will result in lowering the resistanceof the tield'circuit and increasing` the strength of such field, so thatas the lagging tendency of the current increases with the added currentin the circuit, the compensating effect exerted by the phase-controllertending to overcome this lag is correspondingly augmented. When lampsare cutout of the circuit the reverse action takes place, so that thespring B, by cutting resistance into circuit at C, weakens the field ofthe trans former in proportion to the decrease inthe main current.

ln Fig. 2, arcla1nps or other translating devices are shown at A,connected in series with the controller and secondary mains C. Thephase-controller R is of the same kind as in Fig. l, and acts in asimilar manner, though the connections are so changed that theexciting-coils S are in series with the armature S', and the fieldstrength is regulated by a solenoid T in the main circuit, which actsagainst a spring s to eut in or out the resistance of a rheostat U in ashunt-circuit V around the exciting-coils. Hence, on an increase ofthemain current for any cause, the iield of the controller will bestrengthened by :increasing the resistance of the shunt. Should thestrength of the main current diminish, the eld will be weakened by theaction of the spring overcoming the solenoid and lessening theresistance of the shunt. An adjustable reactive coil O is included inthe circuit of one of the circuit-inains.`

The essential elements of the invention, therefore, are aphase-eontroller, by which the desired control of phase is secured, anda regulator therefor, whose action is controlled by a device responsiveto changes in the strength of the main current, so that the correctiveinfluence of the controller is made to keep pace with the need for suchcorrection incident to greater or less current strength.

that I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-V l.'lhe combination in an alternating current distribution system, of aphase controller coupled directly or indirectly in circuitso as toaccelerate or retard the current .relatively to the electro-motive forceas required, anda regulator responsive to changes in current strengthfor varying said accelerating er re tarding intluence, as described.

2. The combination in an alternating current distribution system, of anelectro-dynamic phase controller comprising magnetic members whichrotate relatively to one another, and adapted toexert an accelerating orretarding influence upon the current relatively to the electro-motiveforce, and an automatic regulator therefor regulating the aetion of saidcontroller in response to changes in current strength, as set forth.

3. The combination in an alternating current system of distributiornefan electro-dynamic phase controller' having magnetic members whichrotate relatively to one another, and an electro-magnetic regulatorresponsive to variations in current strength, and regulating theinductive action in the controller, and thereby the phase relationhetWeen current and electro-motive force `in the circuit, as set forth.

4. The combination in an alternating cnr rent system of distribution, ofa synchronous electro-dynamic machine coupled in circuit so as tocontrol the phase relation between current and electro-motive force, aresistance for regulating the field strength of said niachine, and anelectro-magnetic device acting to cut said resistance into orout ofcircuit in response to changes of current strength, as described.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 7th day ofSeptember, 1803.

CHARLES P. S'llil lNMlll'l Z.

'Witnessesz Jol-1N W. GIBBONEY, BENJAMrN B. HULL.

ICO

